When you crave something different but not too exotic for dinner, try picadillo! Brightened with green olives and capers, mellowed with currants, and warmed with cumin and cinnamon, this ground beef dish is sure to please young and old alike with its mild salty-sweet flavors. We piled it into lettuce leaves with rice and fresh pico de gallo for the perfect summertime meal.

And now, my husband and I are off to Santa Fe for a little two-night babymoon. October’s coming fast (though most days I’d say not fast enough!), and we are ready to relish this oasis of kid free time.

Hope you have a great week too! I’ll be back next week with another installment of the prioritizing food dollars series.

Chilly weather got you shivering in your boots? This zesty soup will warm you to your toes in no time–and clear stuffy sinuses too! (Bring me a pot next time I’m sick, will you?) When the mercury drops, and we’re short on time and ingredients, we do Thai.

It’s an embarrassingly common last-minute Sunday lunch for us, because yes, I’m that mom, the one who scrambles to throw together lunch after church every. single. week. and yet somehow never manages to make her life easier by, oh, I don’t know, planning. Bah!

Maybe I just need to throw in the towel and plan the same meal—this one—for every Sunday through the end of the year. It’s so yummy, my husband might not even mind. It’s so good, in fact, that it almost makes up for losing our ritual Sunday afternoon nap with our son’s birth. Almost.

Now, let’s talk details. The key to fantastic Thai food at home is good Thai ingredients. Do not—I repeat, do not—go to your favorite health food store and pick up Thai Kitchen brand fish sauce and curry paste. You will pay approximately $207.46 for four over-salty, tragically disappointing meals.